How do I know if my pet has Lyme disease?

Lyme disease in dogs is spreading throughout Western Carolina region. Here, our Flat Rock area vets shed some light on what symptoms you can look for if you're concerned that your pet may have Lyme disease.

What is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is one of the most common tick-transmitted diseases in the world. Lyme is an infectious disease caused by a bacteria called Borrelia, most commonly carried by deer ticks.

Infection occurs when an uninfected animal is bitten by an infected black-legged tick (deer tick). Ticks become infected when they feed on infected animals such as deer, mice, and birds.

What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?

In pets, the most common symptoms of Lyme disease include general malaise or discomfort, and lameness due to inflamed joints. Pets may also experience depression, lack of appetite, sensitivity to touch, difficulty breathing and fever.

How can Lyme disease be diagnosed?

Make an appointment to see your vet if you think your pet may be suffering from Lyme disease.

To diagnose Lyme disease, your veterinarian will take a thorough history of your pet's health, then run a series of tests including blood tests, urine analysis, fecal exam and x-rays. Fluid from your pet's affected joints may be drawn in order to be analyzed for signs of Lyme.

What happens if my pet is diagnosed with Lyme disease?

If your pet is diagnosed with Lyme disease, treatment will typically include four or more weeks of antibiotics combined with anti-inflammatory medication to help relieve pain. Hospitalization is not generally required for pets diagnosed with Lyme disease.

Fleas can make your pet miserable and lead to more serious conditions. Early detection and treatment of fleas are essential for protecting the health of your animal. Here our vets share some common signs that your dog or cat may have fleas.

Ticks are an external parasite that are prevalent across North Carolina and pose a serious danger to people and pets. Today our vets explain what to look for and how to keep ticks away from your pets and your family.

Client Tails

We had to take our 10-week-old German Shepherd puppy on Sunday. This was our first visit with them. They were SUPER - I could not ask for better care for my girl Reno. They took excellent care of her, and even called on Tuesday to see how she was doing. Also I called my vet on Monday to make sure they could get my records from Reno’s visit on Sunday and my vet informed me they had already sent over the records to my vet! How awesome is that?!? I highly recommend them. Thank you, Dr. Tucker and staff - you guys are awesome!!